Bball hempstead



(No Model.)

'RHEMPSTBAU' Ball-Trap.

Patenten! may 18', Isso.

IIISNMNQ Il i I N. PETERS. FHOTO-LITHOGRPHER, WASHINGTON D C Wnnmwnam.. i.

. UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE.

BEALL HEMPSTEAD, OF LITTLE ROCK, ARK., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO JOHN P. LOVELL, OF WEYMOUIH. MASS.

BALL-TRAP.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,776, dated May 1 8, 1880.

I Application lcd March 6, 1880. (No model.) l

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BEALL HEMPSTEAD, of Little Bock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Ball-Traps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operatiogn`of' the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and iigures of reference markedthereon.

Figure l ofthe drawings is a representation of a perspective view of my improved balltrap. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section thereof; and Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are details.

This invention has relation to im provements in ball-traps; and the nature of the invention consists in the arrangement and construction of the partsof the trap, as hereinafter fully shown and described.

In the annexed drawings, the letter A designates the base of the trap, consisting essentially of the legs a, having at their point of junction an upright spindle, b, annularly grooved near its upper end at c, and notched at i, for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

B designates an upright spring-frame, having at its lower end an annular drum, cl, fit: ting snugly over the spindle and provided with a pin, i', extending through its wall and engaging groove c. The drum dis provided with a number of projecting ribs or teeth, e, near its lower edge, with which a pin, e,extending through a small lug, e, on the base, is engaged when it is desired to work the machine from a stand without rotating. By winding a pull-cord around the drum and withdrawing the piu or set-screw c', the spring-frame B rotates readily upon the shoulder c of the base around the spindle b. Above the drum B is a horizontal platform, l, having at its ends the uprights b', braced together by a plate, f, upon which is erected a post, f.

The platform, uprights, and brace-plate constitute a recess or seat for the spring S. This is composed of an elongated U-shaped middle portion, g, having spiral spring-coils g and arms g, the part g being rigidly secured to the throwing-arm C, thev coils g passed between the uprights b', and the arms perforations in the platform Z.

The throwingarm O extends down between the coils in a inger-likeform, as shown at o, and isdesigned to engage a vertically-vibrating trigger, h, arranged on a transverse rod, j, connectin g the uprights b. This tri gger-lever is of curved form and its weighted end overbalances its power-arm, being,if necessary, weighted, in Order that when the throwing-arm is thrust away from the stop-post f the finger o may become engaged in a notch, r, in the edge of the trigger automatically.

The throwing-arm is provided near each end with bearings n a', in which are seated the vertical portions m of two metallic rods, D, havingon their ends the ball-pockets k. These rods have their free ends bent out from the throwingarm nearly horizontally, as shown in Fig. 2at k, and turn independently of each other in their bearings, being adjusted in anyr desired position by means of a set-screw, m, extending through the bearings n and engaging a shallow groove, t, in the part m of the rod.

The pockets k are of annular concave form, and are provided on their under sides with eyes fr, by means of which they are applied upon reduced oppositely-projecting spindles s at the ends of rods D. The cups are provided with rubber cushions t', that prevent the ball from coming in contact with the body thereof, and are adjustable independently on their respective spindles, and the rods D being adjustable in their bearings, the balls may be thrown in different directions with their trajectories of different curvatures, thus closely imitating the flight of two startled birds.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- 1. The combination, with a base, A, having spindle b, lug c, and shoulder e", of the annular drum d, fitting on and revolving around said spindle, and provided with projecting lugs c and a removable stop-pin, e', extending through lug c" and engaging lugs e, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with the base A and the drum d, revolving thereon and provided with platform l, end uprights, b', rear brace, f, and

g inserted in'` 5e stop -post f', of a spring having the erect portion g, coils g', and legs g", extending through the platform, the throwing-arm C, having iinger o, and secured to part g of the spring, and the gravitating trigger h, provided with notch r, and engaging the finger o automatically, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the spring-actuated throwingarm C, having independent bearings n n and n n', of the bent rods D, journaled in said bearings and provided with grooves t, the screws my, extending through bearings n into the said groove, and ihejournaled oups k on said rods, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the spring-actuated throwing-arm C, the rods D, independently journaled thereon, and the pockets 7c, pivoted or journaled on said rods, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

BEALL HEMPSTEAD.

Witnesses A. BELDING, JNO. C. BEALL. 

